Counterclockwise: the megapixel race of cameraphones Comments

I still miss Nokia's 808 41MP. Didn't have 1020 for the lag between shots. And didn't believe in windows platform anyway. It would be just awesome to see HMD take on 41MP Pureview. Just include dedicated procesor, OIS, huge sensor (I mean HUUUGE, like 808), incredible sound recording, HDR, Zeiss optics 1020's photo app. Think about all anticipation. Think about the tensions fans have for that! It would be like Twin Peaks comeback after 25 years! Those phones would be flying like cupkakes! Oh, and don't forget about additional Zeiss lenses for the phone! Like macro, wideangle, telephoto. That would just be huuuuuge!!!

zodiacfml, 07 Aug 2017If you read dpreview, it will never get close to a 5D or any DSLR. The 808 is only a 1 inch s... moreMaybe not 5D Mark III level, but we definitely something even better than what we have today.
We want a Sony RX100 image quality from smartphones.

Anonymous, 06 Aug 2017EIS is crap. Should have OIS.It's because you have never seen it in action for photos.
If SteadyShot EIS works better than OIS for videos, then it should be the same story for photos.

Anonymous, 07 Aug 2017If you read the gsmarena review you will not be this ignorant and you will see that the 808 qu... moreIf you read dpreview, it will never get close to a 5D or any DSLR. The 808 is only a 1 inch sensor.

zodiacfml, 06 Aug 2017Nice piece but you have to add that megapixel means little for image quality. This is the reas... moreIf you read the gsmarena review you will not be this ignorant and you will see that the 808 quality almost matching a Canon 5D Mark III.. The 808 is as they say the finish line of camera on a phone.. Nothing beats the 808 to this day period.. Hopefully HMD will develop something in the future.. APS-C sensor with 100+Megapixel anyone?

Quantom, 06 Aug 2017Who's still using the 808 PureView in 2017? *raises hands*Me too! (Raises hands proudly).. And I'm thinking of getting a second one as backup in case something happens to this phone.. I have been using extensively for 5 years, drops it on the floor/tarmac a couple of times.. Still going strong.. I will not replace this phone until someone matches the quality produced by this phone.. The 808 is still king

Kangal, 06 Aug 2017As much as I'd like to agree with you, you just are wrong.
I follow technological progress in... moreLOL at your ignorance.. The reason I am still using my 808 is because nobody beats it to this day.. It has the perfect color accuracy period.. Current cameras brightens the scene with HDR and what not making it look unreal and impossibly inaccurate colors whereas 808 gives you the picture with the correct amount of darkness plus it retains all the details even in the blacks.. If you tweak the pictures you will be amazed by the details coming out of the blacks.. The 808 is the king in color accuracy, detail and even dynamic range.. It just hides the details to preserve color/darkness accuracy

Anonymous, 06 Aug 2017With HDR+ the jpgs of the Pixel or Nexus 5x/6p are better than jpgs from 1" cameras. A larger ... moreCM1 had a poor JPEG engine, reason most people would stick with RAW. Shooting with the CM1 is nowhere as easy as it is with the iPhone, for instance. Actually it doesn't work that great with auto settings, getting the most of it is like playing with a dedicated camera set to manual.

On the other hand the 808 produces very nice and natural JPEGs without much effort. Sure one may tweak it for punchier colours or to highlight shadows like current smartphones.

The 808 PureView doesn't the hold the crown on largest sensor smartphone. Even though that 1/1.2" sensor is gigantic by nowadays' standards Panasonic Lumix DMC-CM1 takes the lead with 1 inch sensor (20MP), launched in 2014.

Microsoft was supposed to employ a much improved version of the 808 sensor in its defunct 1030 project. All that's known is that it had 50MP 1/1.2" sensor, OIS but no xenon flash.

High resolution sensors (say 41MP) are not officially supported in any current chipsets, leading to the much laggy experience of the Lumia 1020. Proper implementation requires a dedicated image processor which is neither supported in W10M not Android.

One more thing - please do NOT take DxO tests seriously. For instance, they rate current smartphone LED flash higher than older much more powerful xenon, such as the one employed on the 808. Let alone image quality...

How do you not put the Samsung G800 'Photographers Choice' phone on this list? It had a 5mp camera, xenon flash and 3x optical zoom, and dedicated 2-step shutter key. in 2007... Huge miss by the author here.

Sonu4678, 06 Aug 2017You cited me a DxOmark link. DxOMark ratings doesn't mean a damn thing in real life. I'm not a... moreMaybe its hdr and lowlight is not at top, but U11 stills and 4K are sharper than any new 12mp flagships. Don't forget mics that make 3D stereo.

Kangal, 06 Aug 2017As much as I'd like to agree with you, you just are wrong.
I follow technological progress in... moreYou cited me a DxOmark link. DxOMark ratings doesn't mean a damn thing in real life. I'm not a technical expert, i just believe what i see. HTC U11's camera has nothing over Pixel & S8. Let me remind you they also gave HTC 10 highest rating and everyone knows how that turned out to be.
HTC U11's camera is a huge upgrade from 10 but still its inferior to other flagships.

Nice piece but you have to add that megapixel means little for image quality. This is the reason why Apple doesn't participate in this non sense.
My Sigma 4.7MP APSC-C digital camera beats all smartphone cameras with ease and that is a camera from 2009. My Nikon 24 MP DSLR doesn't improve much from that as I have to buy an expensive lens. 24MP is pretty useless without a high quality lens to match.

There's still plenty room for camera improvement even without the hike in the megapixel spec. Most cameras still don't have this feature, a curved camera sensor.